Ahead of one of the most crucial games for his reputation as a coach, Napoli’s Antonio Conte has had to comment on some media battles.
The six-time league winner is facing yet another early exit from the Champions League against Chelsea, and it comes after his Serie A title hopes were dealt a hammer blow with a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.
Ahead of the match, one of his former strikers at Chelsea, Diego Costa, laid into Conte, saying he’s a ‘very bitter man’ and ‘probably doesn’t have sex’.
Responding in his pre-match press conference, Conte said: “I don’t care what he said.
“I don’t waste time and energy reading what people say about me.
“I remember that with him I won a Premier League title and that he asked to be sold three times in one season.
“Then what he did after Chelsea I don’t know…”
Conte was also asked for his response to Juve’s Spalletti, who called Napoli ‘former champions’ after beating them in Serie A.
“I think it’s an unfortunate statement,” Conte reacted. “He showed disrespect, and I wouldn’t have dared to say that.
“Spalletti is a great coach, but perhaps he should be more careful when he speaks.
“He can’t say that because there are still 16 games to go, and if he saw us so badly… he’s already taken the Scudetto away from us.
“It’s a shame because we worked so hard to secure it, and we deserve respect. I wish him good luck.”
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